Method of providing a customer with increased integrated circuit performance

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes fabricating the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being fabricated to operate at a first performance level; sorting the integrated circuit to a second performance level; locking the integrated circuit to operate at the second performance level when manufacturing the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being configured to be unlocked to operate at the first performance level.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present application relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly to configuring the performance of integrated circuits.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Performance of integrated circuits continues to improve along with semiconductor manufacturing yield rates. The pricing of integrated circuits is generally based on market demand as well as the speed or performance ratings of the integrated circuit. Additionally, the anticipated production yield affects pricing as well as customer commitments. For example, FIG. 1a, labeled Prior Art, shows is a generalized illustration of a distribution of market demand of processors corresponding to certain processor clock speed. In this illustration, a majority of the processors produced demonstrate clock speeds that are ±5% of the predicted speed, with fewer processors demonstrating clock speeds that are ±10% of predicted speed, and fewer yet that demonstrate ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention provides a method and system to remotely configure performance in a processor or other integrated circuit device in return for commensurate consideration.

[0011]For example, a general purpose computer can be purchased with a processor that is capable of operating at a speed of 3 GHz, yet initially operates at a clock speed of 2 GHz. At a later date, additional performance can be purchased to remotely and non-intrusively unlock the processor's dormant performance capabilities to deliver a clock speed of 2.5 Ghz. The metrics for the purchase of the unlocked performance are predetermined by the manufacturer or supplier intermediary, and can be a one-time for perpetual use of the higher performance thereafter, for a limited period of time (e.g., 90 days), or for limited peak usage not to exceed a predetermined percentage of overall non-idle cycles.

[0012]In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, the anticipated production yield affects pricing as well as customer commitments.

However, because customer commitments were made for certain quantities at certain performance levels, some of the processors that yielded at a higher performance level might be “downgraded” such that the higher performance processors are sorted and binned at a lower performance level.

New computer systems can be costly and the replaced computer system is often reassigned or retired from service.

If the processor is upgraded the cost of a new processor is incurred along with the time and effort required for the upgrade.

Predicting when additional performance will be required is difficult and can result in unnecessary cost.

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